Marx and Marxism

Should socialists want to keep the state?

The Marxist critique of the state is again in disfavor in parts of the left, but going back to what Marx wrote clarifies the discussion.

March 11, 2019

Alexandra Kollontai

International Women’s Day

A Russian revolutionary explains how a day of international solidarity with working women became the first day of the 1917 revolution.

March 8, 2019

Ian Birchall

Remembering Colin Barker

A comrade of more than half a century pays tribute to Colin Barker and his contributions to the tradition of international socialism.

February 15, 2019

Obituary: Colin Barker

A teacher and student of revolution

Colin was one of a kind — a brilliant and original academic who also remained an active revolutionary for almost all of his adult life.

February 8, 2019

Paul Le Blanc

Middle school students ask about Rosa Luxemburg

Students doing a class project on the Polish-German socialist had a lot of questions, so they asked for some answers — and got them.

February 1, 2019

Anthony Arnove

How to misread Mike Davis

A critical appraisal of Mike Davis’ Old Gods, New Enigmas in the Boston Review misunderstands the book and Davis’ work generally.

January 23, 2019

Rosa Luxemburg speaks outside a congress of the the Second International in 1907

Paul Le Blanc

Rosa Luxemburg’s revolutionary socialism

One of the greatest figures in the history of the socialist movement was murdered by a far-right death squad 100 years ago today.

January 15, 2019

Pranav Jani

What the Indian rebels taught Karl Marx

Marx's writings on India were sometimes badly mistaken, but his focus on struggle eventually got him on the right track.

May 9, 2018

Left to right: Karl Marx; front of the first edition of the Communist Manifesto

Todd Chretien

How Marx became a Marxist in five easy steps

...And you can to! Here's an introduction to the theoretical leaps Karl Marx made on his way to developing a theory and vision that changed the world.

May 4, 2018

Paul Buhle

Uncovering a C.L.R. James treasure trove

A republished collection of masterful essays by C.L.R. James will introduce a new generation to a giant of history and Marxism.

March 19, 2018

Obituary: Bill Pelz

An unflinching commitment to democracy

The work of a long-time Chicago socialist reflected a commitment to illuminating our history and the fight for workers' democracy.

February 13, 2018

Rob Hoveman

Marxism and the meaning of materialism

Historical materialism is the cornerstone of Karl Marx's theories and views--but how does this concept help us explain the world?

February 12, 2018

Obituary: Joanne Landy

Wholly dedicated to socialism from below

The outpouring of love and comradeship for Joanne Landy shows the reach of her strong commitment to socialism and democracy.

October 27, 2017

Hadas Thier

Karl Marx and the case of the never-ending theft

Karl Marx's Capital was first published 150 years ago this month--and its analysis and insight have only gained in power since.

September 27, 2017

Sean Larson

The rise and fall of the Second International

On July 14, 1889, the Second International was born with the aim of uniting the workers of the world. What happened to that dream?

July 18, 2017

Lenin speaks to a mass demonstration in 1917

Todd Chretien

Which train goes to socialism?

Jacobin's Bhaskar Sunkara proposes that the future of the left may lie with a return to Finland Station, circa 1917. But how are we going to get there?

July 4, 2017

Paul Le Blanc